Rupp 10K

Angry much? I am just a person posted an opinion on a message board. I did not call Rupp names or use any derogatory terms. I was merely questioning his sportsmanship at the finish.

And what the heck is a "non-dubius dimwit?" LOL@U

Is Rupp running the 5K?

Honestly, I hope that Rupp wouldn't run every race like he did last night. As he matures as a professional athlete I'd hope he'd be more willing to take the lead and keep the pace honest rather than slowing to a near walk to avoid it.

However, in the situation of last night (his last race in an Oregon jersey, with no USA championship titles under his belt) he raced to win and that's all that matters. So great job yesterday and good luck at World's to mister Rupp, but after that start pushing it a bit more.

Here we have a young guy who couldn't win a big race for years, heroically and suddenly learns racecraft, wins effortlessly and smartly using his individual strengths (a ferocious kick from an American!) after an endless collegiate season, and the haters go after him. I don't get it all all.

Poor guy has been trying to hold peak conditioning since March (NCAA indoors)- and the haters are somehow asking him to 1)hold a peak for 5 months and 2)push the pace in a track 10k even though it damages his chances in the race.

I'm stopping before I go ad hominem

Let's be honest. We really don't know how well Rupp can close yet. He closed in 2:25 in a 5K that was probably a minute slower than he is capable of running, 2:3X in a 28:2X 10K that was more than a minute slower than he is capable of running, and 2:39 in the USATF 10000 which was probably 30-40 seconds off his PR. Until he actually closes a full race, we don't know if he will have a great kick or if he simply had a lot left in the tank because he had been sitting back for the previous 9500 meters.

I'm not saying he doesn't. I'm just saying we have no idea.

vsax wrote:

I find it ironic that Rupp is being picked on for "just" winning races now, when 1 year ago he was picked on for the exact opposite reason being a second rate give -it -your all for second place....

Damned if you do ...damned if you don't

agreed...

and to if people know he's going to sit and kick... why don't they do something about it? they're professional athletes it's not as though they don't know whats coming... oh wait it's the factor nobody (in the US) has been able to stop it...

scoreboard kids... Rupp with the national title... you with diddly

Not a Rupp hater here, but yeah, leave the celebrations for the victory LAP. Even jogging through the finish line is like a football player turning around and waving the ball at the defense before the goal line.

You pros and soon-to-be pro runners should realize that you only compete about 10 to 12 times a year and yes, the few fans this sport has want to see an honest all out effort during those times.

ph wrote:

I took it as classless on Rupp's part. Granted I will never come anywhere near as fast as Rupp, but I also have hair on my chest and I don't think he can claim the same feat. Back on topic though, I hate those types of guys. It is just likea few years ago, Webb did the 5K at the Penn Relays and just sat and kicked. I think some people started heckling him towards the end for being soft.

OK PH, who DO you like......that wins big races?

Go ahead lay them out there. Keep in mind that whoever yo mention we will be sure and review their past performances and you will likely come up with one of 2 things:

1) They have also sat and kicked TO WIN

or

2) They haven't won much

Victory Homestretch wrote:

Not a Rupp hater here, but yeah, leave the celebrations for the victory LAP. Even jogging through the finish line is like a football player turning around and waving the ball at the defense before the goal line.

Worst analogy ever. How many times do you see football players slow down, drop their arms, do the extened leg thing going into the endzone?

My guess is that next year you won't see him race like that because he won't be running for titles but for times and efforts.

I don't really like Rupp because of the whole thing where he charaded as a collegiate runner when he was actually a pro. However, I respect the guy's ability. Furthermore, all of those denigrating his tactics baffle me. It wasn't a time trial, it was the US Championships. Why do anything to help your competitors? All of the greats do this, don't hate on Rupp for doing it.

I agree. I don't want to be a hater but I was at the race last night and I thought "come on...take a few laps..jeez"

I am sure they told him "Ok Galen...don't ever take the lead until 500 to go" YES BOSS

Saw a few guys out this AM on the PRE trail...for having a hard race last night Billy Nelson and Abdi (running w/ Lagat) they looked like they were going pretty quick....although their slow is quick to me.

" The kid is never going to have fans outside of Eugene making a mockery of races like that." - V6

Really? I don't live in Eugene. In fact, I don't live anywhere near the west coast. Yet I am a Rupp fan. Why? Because Galen Rupp is a great American runner that has shown steady improvement both in fitness and racing tactics over the past few years to the point that he might actually become relevant on a bigger stage. He is developing into a fine runner who knows how to win races. He is also capable of running fast (see: NCAA indoor 5000m record). As other posters have mentioned, Rupp has endured a very long and grueling NCAA season. If we want him to race well in Berlin, wouldn't it make sense to expend as little effort as possible at the qualifying meet, yet still get the W? That's how I'd do it. And honestly, why the double standard with Rupp? When Lagat won the 2007 World Championships 5000 in 13:45 (46 seconds off of his PR), I don't recall the messageboards melting down with talk of his lack of sportsmanship and how big of a pu$$y he is. Rather, he was celebrated for using his strengths to win a championship race. But when Rupp does it, it's completely different for some reason. Rupp knew that he had the best kick in the field, just like Lagat did at Worlds in '07. Use your strengths to win the race. In a championship, winning is winning. Time trials are different. I strongly suspect that when Rupp races a time trial type race in Europe, his tactics will be decidedly different from those that we saw last night. He'll have to give an "honest" (whatever that means) effort or he'll get laughed out of the stadium. But save that for the right time. Last night was a championship race where the ONLY goal was to win. Period. Go Rupp.

Rupp has done the cross thing several times during the NCAA season as he finished, so thats not new. And many African World Champions run like wimps in Championship races. At Worlds this summer you wont see a world record, all you'll see is a low 27 minute time for the 10k with a huge last 600-1000 meters. That's how Championships are won, so might as well let the kid learn to race like that just in case he has the best race of his life and is in contention for a high placing at the World Championships.

sbeefyk1 wrote:

That's how Championships are won

YOu didn't watch the Paris 2003 10000m, did you? It was a 12:57 last 5k. Try and kick with that :).

Pelmoniti Roscillini wrote:

sbeefyk1 wrote:

That's how Championships are won

YOu didn't watch the Paris 2003 10000m, did you? It was a 12:57 last 5k. Try and kick with that :).

That is exactly what Bekele did. Sat on Geb until 150 to go and blasted off a kick.

You know, that's what I get for trying to give props to Rupp on this hatin-ass board. Did you notice I was writing about Rupp and assumed it was another hate-post or something?? I just gave this guy some serious props, in addition to (not in spite of) having the luxuries allotted to him. You wake up and realize that some Americans (me included) do recognize Rupp's talent, potential, and await the day he's actually pushed to the max in a race in ideal conditions. Please read the post before you smash another's.

Pelmoniti Roscillini wrote:

sbeefyk1 wrote:

That's how Championships are won

YOu didn't watch the Paris 2003 10000m, did you? It was a 12:57 last 5k. Try and kick with that :).

12:57...after a 14:00(?) opening 5K.

eatyer wheatings wrote:

Pelmoniti Roscillini wrote:

YOu didn't watch the Paris 2003 10000m, did you? It was a 12:57 last 5k. Try and kick with that :).

That is exactly what Bekele did. Sat on Geb until 150 to go and blasted off a kick.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njGGvaxZSro

That's the point, Bekele could STILL kick after a sub 13:00 2nd half of the race. Geb on the other hand, pushed the pace all the way.

But the main point is: no non-african in history could have hung with the ethiopians in that race. NONE, ZERO, ZILCH. Rupp can just be glad that there will likely never be a WC/OG 10k of that caliber ever again, but even at his future peak, he would be destroyed in such a race (with Geb in the marathon now, and Bekele probably a little past his prime. But of course Bekele/Sihine can still pack a nice 1-2 punch)